GENERAL TELEGRAMS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 27, 25 February 1909, Page 2

GENERAL TELEGRAMS

AUCKLAND TOWN HALL. By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. The ceremony of laying the foundation stone of the Auckland Town Hall was performed by the Mayor (Mr. A. Al. Mvers) iu the preseuce of a large gathering. No official invitations had been issued except to ex-mayors, and the first of these, to arrive was the "Father of Auckland," Sir John Logan Campbell, who was received with cheers. Other ex-mayors present were: Messrs A. Kidil.'.l. Hupton, and F. L. Prime. The contract for the erection of the building was let to Messrs Ferguson and Malcolm, of Auckland,, for £87,505 10s, n Angiist liisT "Including furnishings and other expenses, the. total cost of the land and buildings will be £115,100, ol which £5130 was provided in 1883 out of loan. The sum of £BO,OOO was authorised to be raised by way of loan in 1«00, and the ,bala-.\ce of £30,000 was authorised by way of loan last year. Mr. Henry Brett, ex-mayor of the city, has offered to equip the towu hall with a suitable organ, which will cost not less than £SOOO.

UNEMPLOYED IN AUKLAND. Auckland, Last Night. A list containing the names of over 200 men who have declared themselves to be amongst the unemployed has been handed to the Mayor. The question ;if affording relief will lie discussed by t.ie City Council to-morrow uijihl.

'ME MISSING DElliailT. Christehnreh, Jjisl Sight. The Kaikoura correspondent of tlio Press telegraphed that the Cygnet (Captain .Murray) put into Kaikoura at 12.45 to-day after a friutless seared for the derelict reported to have been seen off the. Kaikoura Peninsula. The Cygnet spoke the Amokura and the Falcon, which had both been searching uasuc-ces-sfullv, and Captain Murray was of opinion that the missing vessel had probably drifted north through CookStrait.

WHALING IN NEW ZEALAND Auckland, Last Night. A proposal is on foot to establish an important whaling station in New Zealand waters, as the result of a visit paid to some of the islands lying to the southward of New Zealand by Mr. H. J. Bull, of Christiana, Norway, who was commercial leader of the Norwegian expedition to tho Antarctic in the ship Antarctic in 1894. The Norwegians now take the lead in modern whaling, and have latterly been extending their sphere of operations to the Southern Hemisphere, notably to Falkland Islands and the Kerguelen Islands. Mr. Bull is now in Auckland with a view to making arrangements for a commencement, possibly at Campbell Island, where right whales are known to pass. The Norwegian method is vastly different from the old harpooning style of capturing the monsters of the deep. The modern wliuler uses a specially-built steamer fitted with a powerful gun capable of killing any whale ever sighted, and some enormously rich "hauls" are on record.

FASTER ENCAMPMENTS. Auckland, Last Night. The forthcoming Easter manoeuvres of the forces, comprising the Auckland military district, will be carried out on a comprehensive, scale at Morrinsvillc. The manoeuvres will be carried out under service conditions with ball cartridge and shell. Battalions of infantry, regiments of mounted rifles, corps of engineer.?, and batteries, of field artillery will take part. The Garrison Artillery Volunteer companies will not go to the general camp, but will man the Auckland forts and go through a series of defensive tactics.

NORTH AUCKLAND RAILWAY. Auckland, Wednesday. The Hon. R. McKenzie announced in his speeches at Waipu that the survey of the western route of the North of Auckland railway would be commenced at the end of the week. The question whether the route went through the Bickerstaffe estate was not material, but the question of whether the line should go east or west of the Tangihua range was. Mr. Marnier declared that in view of the engineers' opinions in favor of the eastern route, a further survey was a waste of public money. Jlo aserted that the Minister's action was weak. The Minister made a spirited reply, asserting that the western survey was necessary in the interests of the country, though it did not pledge i him to either route. Mr. Mander subsequently expressed regret for his remark regarding the Minister having shown weakness.

CONCILIATION COMMISSIONERS. Auckland, Wednesday. Mr. Long, secretary of the Hotel and Restaurant Employees' Union, states that a case comes before the Concilialion {.'ominfcisonicrs next Wednesday, but so far as his Union is concerned the business will not occupy five minutes. The Union is pursuing its objection to the appointment oi Mr. Hnrle, Giles. It will decline to go into details and ask to have the dispute taken direct to the Arbitration Court. Mr. Long, who is also president of the Trades and Labor Council, states that the whole of the unions affiliated with the Trades and Labor Council will follow a similar course.

THE ISLAND THAI)]'.. Auckland, Wcdm-ili.. [ The schooner Kcrcru has been chartered by the Government to make five trips a year to the Islands. Three trips are to be made to Xiene and two to Tonga each year for three years. The subsidy is £SOO per annum.

THE AGE LIMIT. Wellington .Wednesday. _ Sir Joseph Ward, speaking of the' retirement of civil servants, said that all retiiements will take effect from March SI. Those concerned will be given three months' leave of absence, but no distinction will be made. It was never pleasant to see old men who had served their country, relieved of positions, but from an administrative point of view the step was necessary for efficiency and economy. The operation of the ape j limit would lead to the saving of man? thousands of pounds.

(By Oable.— Press Association.—Copyright,)